Warren County, Indiana
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Warren County, Indiana has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 94% of US counties. It ranks 89th of 92 counties in Indiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $4.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $484 per resident. Since 1974 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 2 homes here carry federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Warren County
- Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
- Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
- Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 12.3 | $2M | ||
| Cold wave | 42.7 | $911K | ||
| Tornado | 23.8 | $415K | ||
| Strong wind | 21.8 | $248K | ||
| Earthquake | 36.8 | $156K | ||
| Hail | 29.4 | $144K | ||
| Heat wave | 23.1 | $101K | ||
| Drought | 39.2 | $76K | ||
| Winter weather | 29.7 | $37K | ||
| Lightning | 5.9 | $23K | ||
| Ice storm | 15.7 | $13K | ||
| Hurricane | 23.7 | $10K | ||
| Landslide | 52.4 | $2K | ||
| Wildfire | 2.5 | $1K |
Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is very low and community resilience is relatively high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Warren County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 17
Indiana also had 5 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1953
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 203 storm reports in Warren County since 1953 and about $4.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 9, 1953.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 9, 1953 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 3, 1974 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 8, 1991 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 17, 2013 | EF2 | Foster | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 12, 1973 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 9, 1953 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Apr 3, 1974 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Aug 8, 1991 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jun 29, 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Glen Cliff | $150K |
| Mar 12, 2006 | Flood | Williamsport | $100K |
| Apr 14, 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | West Lebanon | $100K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 27, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.
Flood insurance in Warren County
Check your address flood zone ›National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.
Homes in Warren County
Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 3,706 housing units.
Compare in Indiana
All 92 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Marion County | Inland flooding | |
| Lake County | Inland flooding | |
| Allen County | Inland flooding | |
| Hamilton County | Inland flooding | |
| St. Joseph County | Inland flooding | |
| Elkhart County | Inland flooding | |
| Tippecanoe County | Inland flooding | |
| Vanderburgh County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Tippecanoe County | 12 | |
| Vermilion County, IL | 10 | |
| Fountain County | 11 | |
| Vermillion County | 15 | |
| Benton County | 19 |
Common questions about Warren County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Warren County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Warren County, about $1.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $911,229.
How many federal disasters has Warren County had?
Warren County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1974, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2026.
Is Warren County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 89th highest of 92 in Indiana. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.
Do I need flood insurance in Warren County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Warren County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Warren County had?
NOAA records list 14 tornadoes in Warren County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 9, 1953. The weather service has also logged 45 hail reports and 49 floods here.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.